Paltan (2018)The morning of 11 September 1967, the engineers and soldiers of Indian Army Mountain division in Chumbi valley starts laying the stretch of fencing from Nathu La to Sebu La along the perceived border. A Chinese Political Commissar, with a section of Infantry, comes to the centre of the pass where an Indian Lieutenant Colonel […]

Paltan (2018)

The morning of 11 September 1967, the engineers and soldiers of Indian Army Mountain division in Chumbi valley starts laying the stretch of fencing from Nathu La to Sebu La along the perceived border. A Chinese Political Commissar, with a section of Infantry, comes to the centre of the pass where an Indian Lieutenant Colonel is standing with his commando platoon. The Chinese Commissar asks the Indian Colonel to stop laying the wire. Indian soldiers refuse to halt, saying they were given orders.The Chinese are into propaganda against Indian government by using Loud speakers across the border. An argument starts which soon turns into a scuffle alongside the perceived border.

After a while, the Chinese side follows by planting bunkers in No man’s land, and starts stone pelleting against Indian troops from south shoulder, and machine gun firing from north shoulder. Due to the lack of cover in the pass, the Indian troops initially suffer heavy casualties. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese opens artillery against the Indians. A little latter, Maj. General Sagat Singh, (Jackie Shroff) orders Lt. Col. Rai Singh Yadav, (Arjun Rampal), CO 2 Grenadiers troop to open artillery from their side. The clashes lasts through the day and night, for the next three days, with use of artillery, mortars and machine guns, during which the Indian troops beat back the Chinese forces. Five days after the clashes had started, an “uneasy” ceasefire was arranged due to chinese psychological warfare.

Due to the advantageous position Indian troops had because of their occupation of high grounds at the pass in Sebu La and Camel’s back, they were able to destroy many Chinese bunkers at Nathu La. Later, On 1 October 1967, another clash between India and China takes place at Cho La, another pass on the Sikkim–Tibet border, a few kilometers north of Nathu La, the Chinese troops infiltrate into the Sikkim-side of the border, and claim the pass, the Indian troops again beat back, and Chinese forces withdraw from Cho La.